Sherin Mathews' foster mother gets her passport back

The Indian-American foster mother of Sherin Mathews has got her passport back, nearly a week after charges were dropped against her in connection with the tragic death of her 3-year-old daughter, whose body was discovered in a culvert in suburban Dallas in 2017.

Sini Mathews was charged with child endangerment after she left her adopted daughter Sherin alone at home while she and her husband Wesley Mathews went out for dinner with their 4-four-year old biological daughter on the night before the toddler was reported missing from their house in Richardson, Texas.

Ms. Mathews had been jailed on a child abandonment charge, but the charge was dropped after the district attorney said there was not enough evidence to move forward and released her from the Dallas County Jail.

On Thursday, a Dallas judge ordered authorities to return Ms. Mathews' passport, WBAP, an AM News/Talk radio station in Dallas reported.

Defence attorney Heath Harris said the judge had little choice but to return the passport which was taken when Ms. Mathews was arrested. He said Ms. Mathews had no plans to go anywhere but can do so if she chooses so.

"I am blessed," Ms. Mathews, a nurse, said after the charges against her were dropped and told the media that she was looking forward to meeting her biological daughter.

"I want to thank the DA's office for dismissing the case and I am looking forward to being reunited with my daughter," Ms. Mathews said.